Friends continue support for Lackey after his death

Published: Friday, February 1, 2013 at 4:56 p.m.

Last Modified: Friday, February 1, 2013 at 5:15 p.m.

Danny Lackey, who at 39 had spent more than half his life playing music in a number of well-known bands, died Monday, 21 months after being diagnosed with cancer.

Lackey's funeral was Friday. In the notice published in The Times, he was remembered as a “professional guitarist whose heart and soul was evident in his work.”

In the summer of 2011, shortly after he was diagnosed, fellow musicians rallied to help Lackey and his family with medical bills.

The support continues, with a music download site now having a page dedicated to Lackey with the proceeds designated to his family.

A note on a social media site reads, “Earlier this week Danny Lackey ... succumbed to his fight with lung cancer. A group of friends and artists have to put together a fund (via Bandcamp) to help his wife with medical bills. More songs will be added over the next few days.”

Visit http://fundfordannylackey.bandcamp.com/. Various artists are contributing songs, and others are invited to do the same.

A note on that site reads, “This is a gift from an evolving community of lovers of shoegaze (alternative-rock subgenre), united around the memory of our brother, Danny Lackey. His generous soul touched us in many ways, whether supporting us through When The Sun Hits (a music blog) or washing over us with the beauty and guitars of his Deepfieldview sounds. All proceeds go to Danny's lovely wife, Barbie, to remind her how much he is loved and appreciated. Forever.”

The Deepfieldview project can be found at http://soundcloud.com/deepfieldview.

In an interview published in mid-June 2011, lifelong friend and Ballyhoo band mate Chris Bradford recounted how Lackey's fight with cancer began.

“It was actually April 27, the day of the tornadoes,” Bradford said. “He went to the (emergency room), and they sent him straight to UAB (Hospital).”

There, Lackey was diagnosed with stage 4 non-small-cell lung cancer that had metastasized — spread — to his brain. He had surgery and radiation to treat the brain cancer. Chemotherapy for the lung cancer came later.

A concert featuring friends Albert Simpson, the Blackstone Band and the Jim Parks Band, among others, took place. Local artist Justin Dodge designed T-shirts for the event.

A month later, another concert took place in conjunction with a poker run.

During his career, Lackey toured with The Bucks and Brother Cane, among other bands.

He was preceded in death by his sister, Alaina Lackey.

In addition to his wife, survivors include his parents, Danny and Debra Lackey; brother, Adam Lackey; and aunt, Elaine Lackey.

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